Question: What is special about my city? Sources: Sources showing traditions, symbols, and places in various Kentucky cities. Task: Draw a picture that shows what makes your city special. Vocabulary: community, symbol, logo, seal, city, local, culture, tradition, diversity, civic identity, settlement patterns, event. EXPLANATION: The purpose of this lesson is to encourage students to … Continued
Question: How has my city changed over time? Sources: Sources showing the change in Kentucky cities over time and how/why this change occurs. Task: Describe ways in which your city has changed over time. Vocabulary: community, local, public, city, population, environment, neighborhood. EXPLANATION: The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the evolving … Continued
Question: What is local government? Sources: U.S., Kentucky, city/county map; pictures of capitol buildings for U.S., Kentucky, and county seats; images of or headlines about legislative bodies in action; pictures of leaders with role titles Task: Discuss with a partner/group/class what you notice that is the same and what is different about the three levels … Continued
Question: What are the different types of city government? Sources: Images of local government officials with role titles; headlines, news articles, images of local government officials carrying out responsibilities of their roles (e.g. council meeting, ribbon cutting, examining construction, speaking with citizens, attending community events, etc.); excerpts from city charters/constitutions. Task: Annotate the city government … Continued
Question: How does my city serve the community? Sources: Images of city employees performing their jobs (e.g. police directing traffic, firefighters using a hose to put out a fire, water treatment facilities worker testing water, garbage men collecting cans or large items); titles, logos, images, descriptions from websites/pamphlets of city departments (e.g. Housing Authority, Parking … Continued
Question: How do cities collect money? Sources: Sources may include explanatory text; infographic (where the money comes from) Task: Sort and categorize ways cities collect money. Vocabulary: taxes, user fees, revenue, operating, budget, expenditure, laws, government, ordinance, percentage EXPLANATION: Purpose is to teach students about paying for local government services. Revenues to operate local government … Continued
Question: How do cities spend money? Sources: Sources may include infographic; explanatory text; pie chart with sample budget; excerpted and annotated copy of city budget (see Louisville budget, 19-20 fiscal year, for example) Task: Work together to sort and categorize ways your city spends money. Vocabulary: budget, expenditures, revenue, percentage, utilities, public, police, local, firefighter … Continued
Question: How do cities balance wants and needs? Sources: Sources may include explanatory text; newspaper article of stakeholder explaining decision-making on a budget question; development of source cards with explanation (see KLC materials); pie chart graphic of budget — must be appropriate to grade-level Task: Compare budgets Vocabulary: budget, expenditures, revenue, percentage, utilities, public, police, … Continued
Question: What are city leaders responsible for? Sources: Daily or weekly schedule of mayor/council person/commissioner; images of city leaders carrying out responsibilities; news clips/videos/articles of city leaders carrying our responsibilities; minutes from council meeting; text of laws or local ordinances detailing responsibilities of parties including leaders. Task: Students discuss as they sort and categorize the … Continued
Question: How do people become city leaders? Sources: Sources should include infographic or election cards (similar to service cards) that demonstrate who is elected and who is appointed; image or text from an election where local official mentions being elected by the people; image or text demonstrating/explaining an appointment. Task: Create an illustration showing whether … Continued
Question: How are local elected officials chosen? Sources: Sources should include mentioned in previous question ‒ image cards that identify different jobs and their responsibilities; guidance for teachers to create sources for students ‒ since these tasks are based on a local election, sources will differ from place-to-place. Task: Understand: Select a local election and … Continued
Question: How can I communicate with my local officials? Sources: Explanatory text; infographic (use the TIA action list to add upon KLC list of actions); infographic of a citizen with the ways in which they can take action; source cards of civic actions Task: Create a picture showing ways you can communicate with local officials. … Continued